I'm replacing a worn worm gear on a 1988 Lawnboy snowthrower Model 55382 ST824. I tore the gear case apart but had a hard time removing the bearings on each side of the worm gear. I finally had to grease the auger shaft and pound on one of the bearings until it slid off. During this process, I nicked up and damaged the bearing. I also had to pound off the worm gear.

Is there a better way to do this? Do the bearings come apart before they are removed? I'm not too worried, at this point, about the removal but definitely concerned if I have to "pound on" the new worm gear and bearing when I put them back on.

Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Mark